Elbert William “Bill McRae

Elbert William “Bill” McRae of Miami died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa after an illness. He was 78.

Mr. McRae was born July 31, 1929, in Zena to Malcolm A. and Chrissie (Addington) McRae. He lived all of his life in Ottawa County.

He was a veteran of the Navy in which he served for 20 years.

He worked as maintenance supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in Miami for 18 years. He was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Atomic Veterans. He was a member of Southeast Baptist Church.

He married Betty Ann Beach on May 23, 1953, in Alma, Ark. She survives, of the home.

He was preceded in death by one son, Everett Lee McRae, and his parents.

Additional survivors include two sons and their wives, Malcolm E. and Tonya McRae of Quapaw and James and Heather McRae of Huntsville, Ark.; two daughters , Jan “Annie” Beaudry and husband Ray and Karen Sue McRae of Kensett, Ark.; one brother and his wife, Dan and Vivian McRae of Burbank, Calif.; one sister and her husband, Edna and Ed L'Roy of Bluejacket, nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Southeast Baptist Church in Miami. The Rev. Bob Wilson and the Rev. Dale Neal will officiate. Burial will be in Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens, east of Miami.

Military honors will be conducted by the Navy Funeral Honors Team. Pallbearers will be Will Snider, Scott Snider, John McRae, Stephen McRae, Jes Bakos and Levi Adams. Honorary pallbearer will be Brandon McRae.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. today at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami.